Apparatus for handling pipe at well site

Abstract

A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe, drill collars, or similar elongate members between the elevated drilling floor of a well derrick and a lower storage area is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pair of support cables forming a cable track extending between the rig floor and the storage area with a rear bucket that receives and holds the lower end of the pipe riding on the support cables. The rear bucket is movable along the cable track by a third cable which controls the transporting of the pipe from the rig to the storage area in a pipe lay-down operation. A series of support buckets is anchored proximate the rig floor and is extendable along the cable track as the pipe is being transported, providing support to the intermediate portion of the pipe. A draw works, typically in the vicinity of the storage area, secures one end of the cable track and is provided with a take-up mechanism for the support cables to enable them to be slackened to permit the pipe to be laid down for unloading from the rear bucket and the chain of buckets in the storage area. The take-up mechanism also enables the cable track to be tensioned to facilitate the transportation of a pipe to the elevated rig floor and includes a mechanism for equalizing the tension in the support cables.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for transporting an elongate member between an elevated area and a lower area comprising, a. dual side-by-side support cables forming an inclined track extending between the elevated area and the lower area,   b. a lowermost bucket movable along the track (a) for holding and supporting the lower end of the elongate member, said bucket including, i. a frame having a concave topside cross-sectional configuration and a stop plate at the rear for abutting the end of the elongate member, and   ii. support sheaves mounted on the frame (i) to movably support said frame on the track (a),     c. cable means for controlling the movement of the lowermost bucket (b) along the track (a),   d. a series of a plurality of interconnected buckets movable along the track (a) from an adjacent relationship into a spaced relationship for supporting the remainder of the elongate member as it is being transported between the elevated area and the lower area, each said bucket including, i. a frame having a concave topside cross-sectional configuration,   ii. support sheaves mounted on the frame (i) to movably support said frame on the track (a), and   iii. a roller disposed centrally of the frame (i) and transverse to the track (a) to permit the elongate member to freely slide over the frame, and     e. drawworks means for slackening the dual cables of the track (a).   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series of buckets (d) is disposed on the track (a) between the lowermost bucket (b) and the elevated area and anchored to said elevated area. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lowermost bucket (b) includes gripping means mounted to the frame (b) (i) for engaging the elongate member to limit the movement of said frame relative to the elongate member. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the gripping means comprises first and second spring biased arms pivotally mounted to the frame (b) (i) and operable to engage the elongate member near the end. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drawworks means (e) includes, i. a frame,   ii. first and second fixed sheaves mounted on said frame (i),   iii. first and second movable sheaves aligned with said first and second fixed sheaves (ii) for receiving the dual cables, respectively, of the track (a), said cables alternately passing over said fixed sheaves (ii) and said movable sheaves (iii),   iv. first and second drums for taking in or paying out the dual cables of the track (a),   v. power drive means for moving said first and second movable sheaves (iii) with respect to said fixed sheaves (ii) to slacken or tension the dual support cables of the track (a), and   vi. said first and second movable sheaves (iii) being disposed on opposite sides of a pivot point through which said power means (v) acts in moving said movable sheaves to equalize the tension in the dual support cables of the track (a).